STEFANO MANZOTTI
Painter - Sculptor
Stefano Manzotti (Bologna, 1975) is a visual artist whose practice spans painting and sculpture. Alongside his institutional studies—including the State Institute of Art, the "Francesco Arcangeli" Art High School, and the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna—he has developed a rigorous and self-directed path of research. Driven by an autonomous approach, he independently mastered his core technical and expressive languages, from oil painting to modeling and ceramics through hands-on experimentation.
His early background in illustration and scenography for theater and commercial visual productions laid the groundwork for a more intimate and conceptual artistic inquiry, which culminated in 2009 with the opening of his first studio in the heart of Bologna.
Manzotti's research unfolds through a continuous dialogue between Philosophical Geography, Myth, and Archaeology. From this intersection emerge works that explore the dynamics of Power and the complex phenomenology of human emotions, with a particular focus on the manifestations of Fear. Through a multi-layered approach, his work invites the viewer into a profound reflection on memory, time, and the contemporary human condition.
In parallel with his individual creative path, Manzotti demonstrates a deep commitment to Inclusive Art. He is the co-founder of Studio Manforte, an initiative dedicated to breaking down cultural barriers for people with visual impairments. His ten-year collaboration with the Francesco Cavazza Institute for the Blind in Bologna has represented a significant contribution in the field of museum accessibility, through the conduct of tactile modeling workshops and his role as guide, consultant and trainer for the Anteros tactile museum. This prolonged interaction with a visually impaired audience has profoundly influenced his artistic sensibility, enriching his understanding of sensorial and tactile language as a mode of expression. The creation of tactile works for prestigious museum institutions at a national and international level further demonstrates his expertise in this specific field. This experience is reflected in his broader production, often giving his sculptures and installations a material dimension and a tactility that stimulate a multisensorial fruition of the work.
MUSEI E ISTITUZIONI
2024 - MAR - Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna ("Le coq bleu")
2023 - Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Kofu, Giappone ("Il Seminatore")
2022 - Musei Civici di Pesaro - Palazzo Mosca, Pesaro ("Pala Pesaro")
2020 - Raccolta d'arte Permanente O.A.S.I., Tolè di Vergato (BO) ("Bologna Velata") 2016 - Fondazione Ferrero, Alba (CN) ("Affetti" - Evento collaterale Mostra G. Balla) 2010 - Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona (Biennale Premio Artemisia)
MOSTRE PERSONALI E SELEZIONATE
2025 - Some don't like it hot, Atelier Manzotti, Bologna
2024 - Compositions 24, Bologna
2023 - Nel Tempo Indefinito, Art City Bologna, Spazio B5, Bologna
2020 - Composizioni (Personale), Bologna
2018 - Esprit Decadentisme, Art City Bologna, Galleria Fondantico, Bologna
2015 - Spectrum Miami Art Show, Miami (USA)
2015 - VIII Biennale di Pittura, Villa Smeraldi, Castel Maggiore (BO)
2012 - Spoleto FestivalArt, Chiostro di San Nicolò, Spoleto
2011 - Personale, Spazio Espositivo Sant’Arcangelo, Fano (PU)